Summary

  • Boris Johnson has quit as Conservative leader, saying it is "clearly now the will" of Tory MPs that there should be a new leader

  • He pledges to stay on as PM until a successor is chosen - but a growing number of Tory MPs say he has to leave No 10 now

  • Johnson assured cabinet this afternoon he would only act as a caretaker PM while remaining in position, new Welsh Secretary Robert Buckland says

  • But ex-PM Sir John Major says Johnson should go now for the good of the country

  • Labour also says Johnson must leave office, saying they could try to bring a no confidence vote in Parliament

  • Downing Street announces 12 new ministers, filling some of the posts left vacant by the recent wave of resignations

  • Foreign Secretary Liz Truss - a possible leadership contender who has remained silent for days - says her party needs to keep governing until a new leader is found

Live Reporting

Edited by Nathan Williams

  1. Standoff between PM and party

    Chris Mason
    Political editor

    This morning, bluntly, there is a standoff.

    A standoff between the prime minister and swathes of the Conservative Party, from the cabinet down.

    The last two days have robbed Boris Johnson of much of his authority; but not yet his job.

    He is still there in Downing Street - determined and defiant, his government pockmarked by unfilled ministerial vacancies after a slew of resignations.

    Johnson's career has been defined by a convention smashing attitude.

    That style now confronts what some fear could soon be a constitutional conundrum: what happens if the prime minister won't budge.

    The former Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith said it was a "disgrace" - "our system works on confidence, he has lost it," Mr Smith said, fearing what he called a "major constitutional situation".

    Conservative backbenchers who want rid of the prime minister still have another option - changing the rules next week so another vote of confidence in him could be held.

  2. PM's saga weakens Ukraine effort - security expert

    Joseph Cirincione

    Boris Johnson's leadership crisis sets back the Western effort to support Ukraine, a security expert tells the BBC.

    Joseph Cirincione, a member of the US think tank Council on Foreign Relations, says: "This has immediate international repercussions. For one thing it weakens the Western effort to support the Ukrainians in their war.

    "It's not just that he might no longer be the leader of the United Kingdom, it's that it will usher in weeks of uncertainty that could weaken British and perhaps European resolve.

    "It starts to raise serious questions about the stability of the Western alliance."

    The UK is the second biggest donor of military aid to Ukraine. It has given £2.3bn in military aid and £1.5bn in humanitarian and economic support to the war-torn country.

  3. What's the latest?

    Boris JohnsonGetty Images

    The prime minister is resisting calls from his owns colleagues to resign. Here is a recap of events so far:

    • More than 40 ministers and aides have now resigned from Boris Johnson's government since Tuesday, with many citing concerns over his integrity
    • Welsh Secretary Simon Hart is the third cabinet minister to have resigned, putting in his letter on Wednesday night. He followed Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak on Tuesday
    • Attorney General Suella Braverman hasn't quit but she has called for Johnson to resign and announced she would run for leader if a Tory election contest was called
    • Michael Gove - the levelling up secretary - was sacked by the prime minister on Wednesday evening after he called for the PM's resignation in a face-to-face meeting
    • Home Secretary Priti Patel, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps were among cabinet ministers telling Johnson to stand down

  4. Welcome to our live coverage

    It's been a frantic few days in UK politics - with a record number of government resignations in 24 hours as pressure on Boris Johnson ramps up.

    As of this morning, Boris Johnson is fighting to stay on in No 10. For a catch-up, our latest story is here.

    And stick with us throughout the day for live updates.